Vote Smart provides easy access to congressional and state voting records and maintains a collection of key votes grouped by issue. Vote Smart uses the following criteria to select key votes:
Vote Smart provides a summary of the version of the bill text associated with each selected key vote. Our summaries are written by Vote Smart's staff and interns, who adhere to our strict policies and procedures in order to guarantee absolute impartiality and accuracy. They do not necessarily reflect the content of the final version of the bill, but rather the version voted on in that stage. While many procedural votes take place before a full chamber vote, our voting stages reflect the final reading of each chamber vote. Each key vote selection is reviewed by the project's community of advisors, who are political scientists and journalists from all fifty states.
For more information about the legislative process, see here.
Date | State | Bill No. | Title | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|---|
Dec. 13, 2023 | PA | HB 301 | Appropriates Millions for Various State Education Funding Costs | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (43 - 7) |
Dec. 13, 2023 | PA | SB 843 | Amends Various Education Regulations and Standards | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (188 - 15) |
Dec. 13, 2023 | PA | SB 843 | Amends Various Education Regulations and Standards | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (45 - 5) |
Dec. 13, 2023 | PA | HB 301 | Appropriates Millions for Various State Education Funding Costs | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (175 - 28) |
Oct. 24, 2023 | PA | SB 7 | Authorizes Parents to Review Explicit materials in Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21) |
Oct. 24, 2023 | PA | SB 7 | Authorizes Parents to Review Explicit materials in Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21) |
July 7, 2023 | PA | HB 1422 | Requires Public Schools Report Spending for Paid Media Advertisements | Bill Passed - House (122 - 82) |
June 29, 2023 | PA | HB 479 | Establishes Taxpayer-Funded Private School Tuition Vouchers for Children in Low-Performing School Districts | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21) |
June 29, 2023 | PA | HB 1032 | Appropriates Funding for School Solar Power | Bill Passed - House (134 - 69) |
June 26, 2023 | PA | HB 1067 | Authorizes Immigrant Teachers with Valid License Certification and Experience | Bill Passed - House (110 - 93) |
May 2, 2023 | PA | HB 100 | Authorizes Cross-Age Tutoring for Students in Lower Grades | Bill Passed - House (141 - 60) |
May 2, 2023 | PA | HB 100 | Authorizes Cross-Age Tutoring for Students in Lower Grades | Bill Passed - House (141 - 60) |
April 26, 2023 | PA | HB 494 | Establishes Safety Standards for Carbon Monoxide Alarms in Childcare Centers | Bill Passed - House (158 - 43) |
April 26, 2023 | PA | HB 148 | Establishes Educational Tools to Spot Warning Signs of Eating Disorders | Bill Passed - House (158 - 43) |
Jan. 18, 2023 | PA | SB 84 | Authorizes Teacher Religious Garb in Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 0) |
Oct. 25, 2022 | PA | HB 2633 | Amends Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) Language in Previous State Law | Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 0) |
Oct. 18, 2022 | PA | SB 1243 | Requires High School Students Pass a Financial Literacy Class | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18) |
June 29, 2022 | PA | SB 1278 | Prohibits Instruction on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity for K-5 Students | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21) |
June 20, 2022 | PA | SB 1283 | Prohibits Fetal Tissue Research at Universities | Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 5) |
June 7, 2022 | PA | SB 1191 | Prohibits Transgender Girls from Playing on Female Sports Teams | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 20) |
Oct. 6, 2021 | PA | HB 1332 | Requires All School Districts Post Curriculum Online | Bill Passed - House (110 - 89) |
June 25, 2021 | PA | SB 381 | Authorizes College Athletes to Profit Off Their Name, Image, and Likeness | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (40 - 10) |
June 25, 2021 | PA | SB 381 | Authorizes College Athletes to Profit Off Their Name, Image, and Likeness | Bill Passed - House (154 - 47) |
Nov. 18, 2020 | PA | SB 1216 | Authorizes the Issuance of Temporary Teaching Certificates | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (49 - 0) |
Sept. 9, 2020 | PA | HB 2787 | Authorizes Individual School Districts to Make Decisions Surrounding Activities and COVID-19 | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 11) |
Sept. 2, 2020 | PA | HB 2788 | Authorizes Students to Repeat a Grade Level Due to COVID-19 | Bill Passed - House (197 - 5) |
Sept. 2, 2020 | PA | HB 2787 | Authorizes Individual School Districts to Make Decisions Surrounding Activities and COVID-19 | Bill Passed - House (155 - 47) |
July 15, 2020 | PA | SB 1216 | Authorizes the Issuance of Temporary Teaching Certificates | Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 0) |
June 10, 2020 | PA | SB 1125 | Authorizes School Districts to Extend Time Needed to Pay Taxes | Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 0) |
March 25, 2020 | PA | SB 751 | Authorizes Financial Assistance for Schools Amid COVID-19-Related Shutdown | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (50 - 0) |
Nov. 21, 2019 | PA | HB 49 | Authorizes School Police to Make Arrests | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 14) |
Nov. 19, 2019 | PA | HB 49 | Authorizes School Police to Make Arrests | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (161 - 37) |
Oct. 23, 2019 | PA | HB 49 | Authorizes School Police to Make Arrests | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 20) |
June 28, 2019 | PA | HB 1615 | Expands Tax Credit Education Scholarships | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (160 - 39) |
June 27, 2019 | PA | HB 1615 | Expands Tax Credit Education Scholarships | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 13) |
June 27, 2019 | PA | SB 621 | Authorizes Schools to Arm Security Guards | Bill Passed - House (116 - 83) |
June 11, 2019 | PA | HB 800 | Increases Amount of Tax Credits Available for Students to Attend the School of Their Choice | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21) |
June 11, 2019 | PA | HB 800 | Increases Amount of Tax Credits Available for Students to Attend the School of Their Choice | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21) |
June 11, 2019 | PA | SB 621 | Authorizes Schools to Arm Security Guards | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17) |
May 7, 2019 | PA | HB 800 | Increases Amount of Tax Credits Available for Students to Attend the School of Their Choice | Bill Passed - House (111 - 85) |
May 7, 2019 | PA | HB 800 | Increases Amount of Tax Credits Available for Students to Attend the School of Their Choice | Bill Passed - House (111 - 85) |
Oct. 15, 2018 | PA | SB 1095 | Authorizes Alternatives to Graduate for Keystone Test | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (49 - 0) |
Oct. 9, 2018 | PA | SB 1090 | Increases Anti Hazing Penalties and Regulations | Bill Passed - House (191 - 0) |
Sept. 26, 2018 | PA | SB 1098 | Establishes School Bus Safety Grant Program Fund | Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 0) |
Sept. 26, 2018 | PA | SB 1098 | Establishes School Bus Safety Grant Program Fund | Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 0) |
Sept. 25, 2018 | PA | SB 521 | Requires CPR Training in High Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 0) |
Sept. 25, 2018 | PA | SB 521 | Requires CPR Training in High Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 0) |
June 22, 2018 | PA | HB 1448 | Requires Lead Testing in School Water Systems | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (44 - 4) |
June 22, 2018 | PA | HB 1448 | Requires Lead Testing in School Water Systems | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (44 - 4) |
June 22, 2018 | PA | HB 1448 | Requires Lead Testing in School Water Systems | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (193 - 1) |
June 22, 2018 | PA | HB 1448 | Requires Lead Testing in School Water Systems | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (193 - 1) |
June 6, 2018 | PA | HB 564 | Requires Civics Test for High School Students | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (167 - 27) |
Oct. 18, 2017 | PA | HB 178 | Amends Public School Code | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (105 - 81) |
July 9, 2017 | PA | HB 97 | Authorizes Budget Cuts for Low-Performing Charter Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23) |
July 9, 2017 | PA | HB 97 | Authorizes Budget Cuts for Low-Performing Charter Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23) |
April 25, 2017 | PA | HB 97 | Prohibits Failing Students from Continuing Online Charter School | Bill Passed - House (108 - 84) |
April 25, 2017 | PA | HB 97 | Prohibits Failing Students from Continuing Online Charter School | Bill Passed - House (108 - 84) |
June 23, 2015 | PA | HB 805 | Requires Schools to Use Teacher Performance Evaluations | Bill Passed - House (100 - 91) |
June 23, 2015 | PA | HB 805 | Requires Schools to Use Teacher Performance Evaluations | Bill Passed - House (100 - 91) |
March 4, 2015 | PA | HB 530 | Amends Charter School Laws | Bill Passed - House (118 - 78) |
Sept. 23, 2014 | PA | HB 1177 | Authorizes Cigarette Tax | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (39 - 11) |
Sept. 22, 2014 | PA | HB 1177 | Authorizes Cigarette Tax | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (114 - 84) |
July 8, 2014 | PA | HB 1177 | Authorizes Cigarette and Hotel Taxes | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (43 - 5) |
July 2, 2014 | PA | HB 1177 | Authorizes Cigarette and Hotel Taxes | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (119 - 80) |
July 1, 2014 | PA | HB 1177 | Authorizes Cigarette and Hotel Taxes | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 12) |
June 29, 2014 | PA | HB 1013 | Amends Laws for Home-Schooled Individuals | Bill Passed - House (133 - 65) |
Jan. 13, 2014 | PA | HB 1411 | Requires Schools To Make Their Expenses Public | Bill Passed - House (119 - 81) |
Jan. 13, 2014 | PA | HB 1741 | Requires a School Board to Provide Public Notice Prior to Certain Votes | Bill Passed - House (102 - 98) |
Oct. 16, 2012 | PA | SB 1115 | Amends Charter School Laws | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 16) |
June 30, 2012 | PA | SB 1115 | Amends Charter School Laws | Bill Passed - House (120 - 77) |
June 28, 2012 | PA | HB 1307 | Authorizes State Control of Financially Distressed Schools | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (106 - 95) |
June 19, 2012 | PA | HB 1307 | Authorizes State Control of Financially Distressed Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 21) |
Dec. 14, 2011 | PA | H Amdt 7732 | Tuition Vouchers for Charter Schools | Amendment Rejected - House (90 - 105) |
Oct. 26, 2011 | PA | SB 1 | Charter School Guidelines | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22) |
June 30, 2011 | PA | SB 330 | Amending The Taxpayer Relief Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 17) |
June 30, 2011 | PA | SB 330 | Amending The Taxpayer Relief Act | Bill Passed - House (109 - 86) |
May 11, 2011 | PA | SB 612 | Guidelines for Teacher Suspension | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 12) |
Nov. 17, 2010 | PA | HB 101 | Education Law Amendments | Veto Override Passed - Senate (42 - 7) |
Nov. 15, 2010 | PA | HB 101 | Education Law Amendments | Veto Override Passed - House (171 - 24) |
Nov. 15, 2010 | PA | HB 2497 | Amends State Employee Pension System | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (165 - 31) |
Oct. 14, 2010 | PA | HB 2497 | Amends State Employee Pension System | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 8) |
June 23, 2010 | PA | HB 704 | Special Education Funding | Bill Passed - House (173 - 25) |
June 16, 2010 | PA | HB 2497 | Amends State Employee Pension System | Bill Passed - House (192 - 6) |
July 4, 2008 | PA | HB 1067 | Omnibus Education Bill | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (191 - 11) |
June 14, 2006 | PA | HB 39 | Property Taxes (Special Session) | Conference Report Adopted - House (137 - 61) |
May 2, 2006 | PA | HB 39 | Property Taxes (Special Session) | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (40 - 9) |